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So, this year’s campaign for Ulster in Europe will
be decided this weekend, not by the outcome at
Kingspan, but only on Sunday when the results from
all five pools are compiled.
The five group winners go automatically through to the
quarter-finals, and the best three runners-up will join
them. At the end of last weekend’s series of matches
Ulster had 13 points from its five games to date, and
the least well-placed to be amongst the three sides to
qualify from second spot in its group.
But all that can change, and the Ulster fans will roar
their favourites on hoping for a maximum points
return, and for helpful results in other pools, to
secure what would be a very welcome place
in the knockout stages in early Spring, and
perhaps apt reward for those outstanding
wins over Toulouse and, yes, the
remarkable recovery to win in Oyonnax.
Les Kiss and Head Coach Neil Doak
don’t make the absence of injured players
an excuse, they regard those fit and healthy
as the best available squad. But Jared Payne’s
impressive return last week at Saracens, Darren
Cave’s welcome availability, and Nick Williams’
possible restoration to the panel augurs well, not
just for the Champions Cup but for the all-important
PRO12 series which returns just as the Six Nations
gets underway.
The coaches know how to manage their resources,
and Ireland’s Call will mean a strong contingent
joining Joe Schmidt for some weeks.
But there’s encouraging news of the gifted Stuart
Olding who lined out for the Ulster A team last night,
and hopefully Dan Tuohy’s recovery continues, while
Tommy Bowe and Iain Henderson will want to be
involved before the end of the season.
It is indeed another big European occasion at
Kingspan Stadium today, and if the jigsaw pieces
fall, well then an extension of the Champions Cup
adventure will be the reward players, coaches and
fans will gleefully welcome.
But Kiss has described this Ulster team as ‘growing’,
and it will be intriguing, sometimes infuriating, exciting,
often disappointing, watching a squad returning to full
health show just what it has to offer for the short and
long-term future under the shrewd, inventive guidance
of Kiss, Doak, Clarke, Joe Barakat and Niall Malone.
They, and the players, deserve some good fortune,
and most certainly will respond to what’s sure to be a
huge welcome back to Kingspan Stadium today.
ARTICLE BY ROD NAWN
FREELANCE JOURNALIST
AND SPORTS ENTHUSIAST
@RODNAWN1